Rest assured, dear reader, I’ve got plenty to write about for this week. And you’ll have to tune it to see what it’s all about. But for today, well, alas I didn’t get anything really written. So instead I’ll post pictures of things you’re likely not at all interested in. Namely, makeup.

I’m a little bit obsessed. Ah well, it’s better than a crack addiction. Cheaper too, from what I hear.

Stopped at Target on the way home from the WAM Sunday, as I’d remembered that I had a gift card, and knew I still had a few dollars left on another one.

haulage!

The weird cuff-looking things up top there are actually fingerless gloves, or arm warmers or whatever you want to call them. They match my winter coat just about perfectly. and I hate wearing gloves to drive, so I’m going to give these a try. Maybe I’ll learn to knit myself a pair by the end of… the year.

Below we have a Rimmel nail polish–like I need more nail polish (ALWAYS). Next up is a domed Maybelline eyeshadow, and one of their new plush finish eye palettes. I also got a lovely sheer finish Boots No. 7 lipstick and one of their mineral palettes. Finally, a Maybelline gloss. I was hoping it would end up cherry flavored as well, but no dice. It does smell good though. Nice and light and sheer without being too sticky as well.

So far, a quick swatching of the shadows without any base on the back of my hand left me vaguely disappointed. I’m hoping they’ve got better pigmentation when applied over a base. I do like some of the colors, they just don’t seem to have much oomph, yanno?

I promise I’ll tell you what I remember of NYE tomorrow.

Hi Guys and Dolls! I was recently sent a few Heavenly Natural items from the Shimmer Network to review.  So Bam: Here you go.

Swatched over NYX's "Milk" jumbo pencil & then nothing From L-R: Beauty Marked, Hush a Bye, Fire Fly, Unashamed, Look At Me

These items were sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes by the Shimmer Network, however this company sells their products for a very nice price point. Their eyeshadows sell for around 4.99 & the lipgloss sells for 6.99. More information of pricing can be found at  http://www.heavenlynaturalbeauty.com/

I was sent 3 of the Neon Pigments, A  Mineral Lipgloss and 2 samples of their eyeshadow. Now, the neon pigments are listed under the eyeshadow category, but in the listing, it stated that the neon pigments are not FDA approved for use on the eyes. I tried using these on my lips, and the pink turned out GREAT, but the purple and yellow turned out weird. SO I’m really at a loss for how to review these. I did go ahead and try them as eyeshadows, and they worked great, but since that’s not technically safe….Well, I’m going to leave that open ended. These did arrive with a plastic seal, and I really felt that that was a nice touch, it was a bit beyond what most internet-based mineral companies do.

The two eyeshadow samples I received are great! Hush a  Bye is a shimmery mid-tone blue with golden shimmer and Beauty Marked is a nice medium to light purple. Both have a smooth application and a nice “cling” -Not all mineral companies have that. Overall I was impressed with these two, and when I get a chance, I’ll try this company’s eyeshadows again.

The Lipgloss is interesting.  It has a very pleasant candy-cane type scent that I really like. Lately I’ve really liked minty gloss as I feel it gives me fresher breath. This one didn’t sting like some of the other minty glosses I have been using. I liked that this was a sheer wash of color. This lipgloss is also very shiny.  On the website, they claim that this lipgloss is rich and thick without being sticky.  I found it to be incredibly watery. It actually felt runny.   In fact, I’m pretty sure it was getting in my mouth, since my mouth started tasting minty (and I’d just eaten). If you like minty lipgloss, and don’t mind if it’s very very thin, then this is for you. I did notice that my lips felt very soft and moisturized after I used this.

I know this review seems a bit  jumbled.  That’s sort of how I feel. I really don’t care much for the gloss, but I know some people like that sort of gloss, so I figured I’d share the specs. I really liked the eyeshadows, but I don’t really have enough of them to try for a tutorial. I like the  neon pigments, but those aren’t eye safe. I will say this: If you wanted the MACPro Neon Pigments, but just can’t commit to a whole $19 jar (who is going to use that whole thing?), get these, since they are only $5!

Another thing that’s really cool about this company is that they list the ingredients on the products!

These items were sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes by the Shimmer Network.

This review is based on my opinion and nothing else. This is my Peanut Gallery, thanks for reading my 2 cents.

<3 Cora

คุณจะพบโมร็อกโกในแอฟริกาเหนือล้อมรอบด้วยทะเลเมดิเตอร์เรเนียนทะเลมหาสมุทรแอตแลนติก, ซาฮาราตะวันตกและ แอลจีเรีย. กับ landscapes หลากหลายของการส่งข่าวเมืองเช่น Marrakech, High Atlas Mountains และทะเลทรายซาฮาราจะไพร่พลที่หลากหลายกิจกรรมผจญภัยและเพื่อหยุดการผจญภัยในโมร็อกโกบางเป็นขอมากที่สุดหลังจากใน North Africa.

บางที่ดีที่สุดการผจญภัยในวันหยุดโมร็อกโกมี trekking วันหยุดและ High Atlas Mountains เป็นปลายทาง trekking ประเทศชั้นนำ. ที่นี่คุณสามารถดู vistas เหลือเชื่อชีวิตหมู่บ้านพยานดั้งเดิมค่ายในป่าหรือแม้แต่พยายามที่จะปีนยอดสูงสุดของโมร็อกโก; Jebel Toubkal สำหรับสุดยอดการผจญภัยของโมร็อกโก. คุณสามารถรอบยังอยู่ในเทือกเขา Atlas กรณีนี้เหมาะสมกับความสนใจของคุณ.

อีกตัวที่นิยมคือซาฟารีทะเลทรายในโมร็อกโก. คุณสามารถเพลิดเพลินขับเคลื่อน 4 ล้อเดินทางไกลในทะเลทรายซาฮารามากมายที่คุณสามารถเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับชีวิต Berber ดั้งเดิมและนอนในป่าภายใต้ดวงดาว.

หยุดการผจญภัยอื่นๆในโมร็อกโกรวมวันหยุดครอบครัวเด็กที่ได้รับขี่อูฐและเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับวัฒนธรรมที่อยู่ห่างไกลจากเองเรียนทำอาหารแบบดั้งเดิมของพวกเขาให้ทัวร์เมือง Marrakech และหญิงแม้เพียงหยุดโมร็อกโกสำหรับผู้ที่พบความสะดวกสบายในการเดินทางกับอื่นๆผู้หญิง likeminded ในทัวร์จัด.

จากภูเขาในทะเลทรายและจาก bazaars ชีวิตชีวาในหมู่บ้านดั้งเดิมบรรยากาศโมร็อกโกและเสน่ห์ทำให้ถาวรประทับใจและทำให้มั่นใจว่าเดินทางกลับมาที่นี่เวลาและเวลาอีกครั้งในวันหยุดผจญภัยในโมร็อกโก.

After much consideration on what type of make up I should get for the new year, I decided on a few brands and shades. This make up haul is Urban Decay. I know that Urban Decay is quite pricey but with its highly pigmented eyeshadows and quite praised Primer Potion, I needed to get my hands on some!

Urban Decay Urban Ammo Eyeshadow Palette – 44 CAD

Palette comes in 10 different eyeshadow colors – smog, mildew, oil slick, last call, chopper, maui wowie, shatered, polyester bride, grifter and sin

Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow Box – 44 CAD

Except for the repeating of Grifter and Oil slick, everything in this shadow is new to my collection!

Lastly…

My all-time favorite purchase! This primer potion will keep your eyeshadow in place all day without creasing — how awesome is that?

Being a bit OC, I usually want to wait for a certain date or day before I start something.  Like starting to post again on my blog.  However, I would like to overcome that and learn to do things “now”.  I don’t want to wait, you know?

Since it’s not yet New Year, and I don’t really want to talk about my holidays, then I’ll just post some photographs from a make up session with my younger sister.  It’s post-Christmas and we just got a boat-load of make-up from my grandma and my aunt.

Here’s a rundown of the face paint my sister used to achieve this look:

Powder: Myra E (Natural)
Eyeliner: Everbilena Stargazer
Liquid Eyeliner: Fashion 21 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeshadow: Lancome (Volcano/Pink Veil)
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose (Black)
Bronzer: Clinique (Sunkissed)
Blush: Clinique (Iced Lotus)
Lipstick: Lancome (Boheme)

This second look is make up for prom — according to my make up artist. Teehee.

Powder: Myra E (Natural)
Liquid Eyeliner: Fashion 21 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeshadow: Lancome (Peep/ Rose Quartz); Clinique (Iced Lotus)
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose (Black)
Bronzer: Clinique (Sunkissed)
Blush: Clinique (Iced Lotus) – Yes, we also used this as an eyeshadow.
Lipstick: Lancome (Boheme)
Hairspray: Dove (Extra Hold)

*To remove all that make up, I used Clinique Eye Make Up Solvent and Human Heart Nature Honey and Cocoa Butter Facial Cleanser and Make Up Remover. *

By the way guys, Human Heart Nature is a Philippine brand that sells organic and biodegradable self-care products.  For more information, you can check out their site.  Yes, I am advertising their products but I’m not getting paid by them.  Oh, wait.  Hehehehe.  My mom’s actually a dealer.  Teehee.

When someone puts make up on my face or fixes my hair, I always feel sleepy and tired.  In fact, I fell asleep after that make up session with my sister.  I woke up an hour later and took off the make up.  I also made sure to wash my face.  I shouldn’t let her paint my face when I’m sleepy.  It’s not good for my skin if I keep falling asleep after a session.  I might wake up in the morning without having removed the make up.  Horrible thought.

Anyway, I’m hoping to post more of the looks my sister comes up with.  She recently told me she was gonna put a sunflower themed eyeshadow on my eyelids.  I don’t know how that’s going to turn out.  We’ll see.

Before I forget, I would like to greet everyone a Happy New Year!!! I’m so excited for our family dinner later at 12 midnight.  I’m going to post photos and stuff tomorrow.  Or as soon as I recover from the madness.

See you all next year!!!

Hey, pretty peeps! Yes, I’m still alive and so glad to be back! I missed ya’ll!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I know I did; pics and stories about what I did this holiday coming tomorrow!

I also have tons of great stuff coming up for this blog and for myself this new year. Can you believe 2010 starts this week?! Seriously, where did 2009 go? It wasn’t the greatest year for me so I’m glad it’s on its way out. 2010’s going to be great because I said so, ha!

Now, on to the makeup!

You know I’ve received tons of samples from Aromaleigh (see the sample madness here), but I finally made my first purchase. Check out what I got!

The five eyeshadow jars were purchased by me. The eyeshadow samples are from the Retro Hi-Fi Matte Collection and were chosen by me as my three free samples (you get to choose three with every purchase). The lippie sample was thrown in out of the goodness of their hearts. You can see my review of Aromaleigh lippies here.

After trying samples of Amarante and Sabine from the Bete Noire Collection (see more about this awesome collection here), I had to have them. The Spring Solstice 2009 Collection was a limited edition collection that came out this past spring, but made an encore for the winter to see which shades would be made permanent. I really liked all of the colors from this collection, but Jessamine, Tansy, and Viburnum really stole my heart.

Here are the color descriptions and swatches:

• Amarante: deep, olive-green with blue sparks of shimmer
• Sabine: smokey copper with pink sparks
• Jessamine: deep green with a brown base and gold shimmer
• Tansy: deep, shimmering gold
• Viburnum: brown-pewter (taupe) shimmer
• Daddy-o: muted yet vibrant turquoise
• Radioactive: vibrant green, looks like a mint green on me
• Smokin’: muted violet

Swatches in the shade.

Swatches in the sun. Hello, shimmer! Hello, super vibrant matte!

I’m so in love with all of these colors! Pics don’t even come close to how vibrant these colors are in real life. I can’t pick a fave, I love ‘em all! The five shimmery colors are great for every day wear (for me, at least), especially Viburnum. It’s the perfect neutral taupe. Perfect! Miss K, if you read this, pretty please make all three of these limited edition shades permanent and don’t ever discontinue the Bete Noire Collection. Ever!

Not only are their products amazing, but there are sales all the freakin’ time! Oh, and the shipping is lightning fast. I chose the cheapest shipping option and got my order in just 3 days!

Loves it!

You can find Aromaleigh here.

Have you tried Aromaleigh? Oh, and how was your holiday?

]]> http://blueeyedheart.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/breaking-routine/ Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:52:45 +0000 blueeyedheart http://blueeyedheart.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/breaking-routine/

No exciting subway tales to relate today: just wanted to say that the subway benches are really uncomfortable and unforgiving.  My poor butt.  And for some inexplicable unrelated reason, my inner thighs feel like I’ve been horseback riding.  To my knowledge, I haven’t been, and I think I would remember something like that, so this is really rather puzzling.

Also puzzling was the mysterious disappearance of the fish that sparked my profanity… it was sick, yeah, but even if it died, it was too big to have been eaten so quickly!!  Anyway, the air pump is connected to this decorative boat, which you can barely see because right now it resembles a submarine, it’s buried so deeply in the gravel:

It’s buried so deeply because the air pump is very powerful and tends to just yank it upward.  Which is why my arm was in the tank tonight to re-bury the thing, again.  On a total whim I looked inside (it’s hollow), and guess what I found… my poor fish!!  It was very dead… rigor mortis had set in.  Does that even apply to fish?  Apparently, because I had a hell of a time getting it out of there.  Sigh.

Backtracking… Having determined that we’ve had enough of stingy salads for the moment, my friend and I decided to meet elsewhere today. In what sounds like a simple process but actually was not, we chose a random Starbucks location and arranged to meet there with our own lunches. This was mine:

Udon with broccoli stir-fry vegetables and soy sauce.  I carried this in the freezing cold as the wind attempted to blow me back to my office… the Starbucks is two blocks away from her office, but seven blocks from mine.  Anyway, I get there… and she comes in and says that her mom didn’t make her lunch, so she doesn’t have any food.  A) What are we, ten?!  B) She knows how much I hate eating in front of another person, so she could have mentioned this before we decided to meet.  She ended up just getting a coffee and a fruit cup, while I pigged out on my (admittedly tasty) lunch… but, uh, awkward to the max.

And this was actually a break in routine for me; it should be obvious by now that the salads I take to work are always lettuce-based.  I know that when I get into a food rut like that, even if it initially began because I was too lazy to do something different or because I genuinely like whatever it is, eventually I become afraid of anything else; so I really have to mix things up sometimes, whether I want to or not.  And I bet that my crazy brain will now make some sort of illogical connection between breaking from familiarity and such awkwardness!

Since I’m apparently all about breaking routines these days … I had a coupon that expires on December 31, and I needed to use it for something; so I opted for this:

This is very out of character for me, because I tend to stick to silvers / greys / whites when it comes to eyeshadow.  But I already have this in a silvery shade, and even though it’s nearly finished, I have a million others in similar colors!  So this one it was.  Naturally, I just had to try it out today, because patience is definitely not my virtue!

Ignore the nasty eyebrow situation, please; I am way overdue for a threading!  Anyway, I don’t tend to wear much makeup on days that I go swimming, because I just don’t feel like removing it beforehand!  Today, though, I figured that I would test out my goggles again and not remove any of my eye makeup.  This is what it looked like after I went swimming:

Different lighting, so you can’t really tell, but — it all stayed where it was supposed to!  No raccoon eyes, either.  Maybe I ought to try swimming with a dramatic eye next!    The pool, by the way, was delicious — 85 degrees.  Mmmmm.

My efforts to clean out my freezer continue…

"vegetarian grilled steak in mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes and peas"

I’m noticing that the emptier my freezer gets, the more anxious I get.  I’m taking this as a sign that it is something I should keep doing, because most of the time, the things that are worth doing do make me feel anxious.  Which kind of sucks, but oh well, that’s life.

I got a package today!

Long story in short form: I like Enjoy Life granola, all three types of which I’ve reviewed here at some point or another.  The cranapple crunch is my favorite, but basically impossible to find here.  I got it once at the health food store near my house, but it was insanely expensive.  My second-favorite is the cinnamon crunch, which is weird since I hate raisins.  Of course, lately, the only one I can find anywhere is the very berry crunch, and I don’t really like that one very much.  So I decided to check Amazon… except that I don’t want to buy half a dozen bags at once, because I’ll never finish them in time!  Then Google informed me that I could get them at LuckyVitamin.com.  This happened on Monday morning, and I was a bit irritated with myself because I had just placed an order there on Sunday night — because I finally found the strawberry Jamfrakas!

Figuring it couldn’t hurt to ask, I called LuckyVitamin and asked, if my order hadn’t shipped yet, whether I could add a couple of things to it.  It hadn’t shipped, so I made my additions.  This was on Monday afternoon.  And the package arrived today.  That is super-fast shipping, which makes me very happy!

The goods:

I think it’s pretty safe to say that I’m set in the Jamfrakas department … for quite a long while. 

Hmm… this post is somehow so long that it might lead one to erroneously conclude that I actually have an exciting life, when nothing could be further from the truth!  In fact, all I do is sit at work all day.  Thrilling.  Though I get to sleep in a couple of hours later than usual tomorrow, because I got an appointment with my dentist for 11.00 — not exactly convenient, but I can’t be too picky here, now, can I?!

Have a happy Hump Day!

Here’s an update – the last being the October peekaboo into my everyday make-up pouch. This is the stuff that I’ve been carrying around this month.

Contents of my make-up pouch (Dec 09)

Still the lovely cherry-print cosmetics pouch from Steph & Co. by http://www.stephaniejohnson.com/ but some changes to the contents. I currently have:

1. MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder – NC25
2. REVLON new complexion One-Step Compact Makeup – 03 Sand Beige
3. COULEUR INC Eyebrow Pencil – Light Brown 02
4. URBAN DECAY Eye Shadow – Cherry
5. PAUL & JOE Face Color – 06
6. PAUL & JOE Glistening Eye Colour – 004
7. CLINIQUE Almost Lipstick – 06 Black Honey
8. BENEFIT Bad Gal Liner (Waterproof) – Extra Black
9. BENEFIT Lemon Aid Color Correcting Eyelid Primer
10. L’OREAL HiP mini eyeshadow brush
11. Brandless retracter brush for blusher

I bought about 15 of the little L’Oreal HiP eyeshadow brushes from someone on eBay. It’s small and fantastic! I carry around 1 but I actually have 4 at home that I use – for different colours.

Mondo apologies, sugar plums! With all of the holiday decorating, mall shopping, and envelope stuffing, I lost track of last week and (sadly) thus my blog. No worries though! I hope that everyone had a terrific Christmas!

As New Years draws near, an overabundance of thoughts race through my head, including the perfect New Year’s Eve attire. Even if you’re spending the evening at home with a few close friends watching musical performances from the Top 40 in the swanky Times Square and gobbling popcorn (…, which sounds super cute and cozy to me), the night brings the opportunity to have fun with your wardrobe, ringing in the new year with sparkle, smiles, and style. Inspired by Emanuel Ungaro’s Spring 2010 RTW looks (Yes. I am in love with this line, but I can’t help it! Haha.), I styled the outfit below. Collages + Fashion = An unlimited amount of fun. Haha.

“Over the years, I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” –Yves Saint Laurent

This outfit is my very first created on Polyvore.com!

1. Crumpet Sloppy Joe Cashmere Sweater ($322)- Due to its hue along with its simple yet chic assymetrical silhouette, I thought this sweater would make the perfect basic in almost any instance.

2. Unisex Ring ($20) - Once again, this piece of jewelry is both elegant but simple. I love to wear rings like these (solid and substantial) on my thumb for an edgy touch.

3. Charlotte Bag by Paul Boutique ($85) - This flourescent pink clutch is both bright and bubbly but also classic owing to its quilted design. FYI: This purse was actually the inspirational for the entirety of my outfit. I have a thing for quilted clutches and now (apparently) hot pink. Haha.

4. Hot Pink Pumps ($76.49) - Although matching shoes and bags do not stand as a steadfast rule for every occasion, it just seemed to work in this instance. Plus, from the bold shade to the razor-sharp shape, these pair of puppies are just too fiery to say no to! Haha.

5. Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal-Embellished Tiger Cuff  ($225) -  In keeping with Teen Vogue, animal prints are making everyday avenues into street safaris. As a result, who says that these patterns must merely be confined to your clothes and footwear? Why not your arm too? Haha.

6. Fortune Nail Lacquer ($2.80) – In attempt not to overkill on neon, I thought a splash of gold nail polish would be a subtle contrast to the rest of the outfit.

7. Daisy by Marc Jacobs ($72) Daisy by Marc Jacobs is my signature fragrance, so I just had to include the perfume in my very first style design. Haha.

8. Barry M. Dazzle Dust ($7.05) – Despite the fact that I am not entirely sure if this cosmetic item is blush, eye shadow, or lipstick, this color is just the thing to give your cheeks a slight pop of pink.

9. Sephora Colorful Mat Mono Eyeshadow ($5) – With several applications of this slate grey eye shadow, Sephora’s makeup would give you the ultimate smoky eye, which is ideal for any night on the town.

10. Armani “Eyes to Kill” Mascara ($28) -  Mascara is the cherry on top of a perfect face application.

… and there you have it: my earliest Polyvore style attempt. (Merci, PoVo.) So, what do you think, my loves? Yea or nay?

Have a fabulous evening, darlings! Four three more days until New Years Day. The anticipation is killing me! Haha.

Sparkle & shine,

Dani

BTW: I added some looks from the marvelous Olsenboye look book on the last post. Bursting at the seams with fun candy-colored pastels designs, these outfits are more than spring-ready (…, which I am so looking forward to. Haha.) and age-appropriate as well.

I love giving my sims smokey eyeshadows and loved bruno. So, I decided to make some more colors. More vibrant. I hope you all enjoy!

I made some eyeshadows of one of Bruno’s lovely eyeshadows. I always want more colors then she gives. I decided to add 10. Hope you all enjoy!

These are some eyeshadows I recolored of bruno’s eyeshadows. Forget the exact base but they won’t be hard to find. I love her shadows and always want more colors. I decided to add 10 recolors. A darker gray then her original one in her collection. Hope you all enjoy!

I did a little guest blogging today on the fabulous Makeup and Beauty Blog. Check out my feature on how to score a few different looks with MAC’s Devil May Dare eye palette, part of the holiday ‘09 Magic, Mirth, and Mischief! collection.

Best of 2009: RIP Discontinued Makeup Products

You know how every year at the Oscars they have a tribute photo montage to the movie industry people who passed away in the previous year?  In 2009, there were a few favorites from my makeup kit that bit the proverbial dust, and I’d like to pay tribute to them as well.

There were many brands that retired some makeup horses from their stable, but for this post I’m focusing on AVEDA.  I’ve worked with this line for eight years now (many of my salon clients carry it), and they have a strong committment to constantly updating their formulas to coincide with environmental breakthroughs.  I love that about AVEDA.  It also means that their makeup items aren’t around for long.  Fortunately, they always come out with something better, and the January launch looks to be amazing.  Before I start celebrating the new collection, though, I’d like to take a pause to honor the trusty items I was constantly grabbing for to delight clients in 2009. (cue violins . . . )

Top 9 AVEDA Products I’ll Miss from 2009

Uruku Lip & Cheek Creme in Solara: Your sheer bronze color was perfect for the client with a ruddy skin tone who didn’t want a pink blush.  Because of your dual uses, you helped me convince clients who didn’t wear cheek & lip color that adding it to their routine was easy, fast, and inexpensive.

Flax Sticks Smudger Brush:  I couldn’t do a smoky eye without you.  I’m glad you’ll still be around in the Special Effects Brush Set, but no longer can I tell clients it’s the one brush they need to have.

Petal Essence Eye Color in Sunset:  You were such a rich, intense coppery shadow that made blue eyes pop from across the room.  In applications from subtle to smoky, I’ll miss your versatility.

Uruku Lip Color in Sheer Ivory Nut:  You were the always reached for “nude lip”.  Matte yet still creamy, beige without being grey, light but not washed-out.  ”Angelina” lips will never be the same.

Bronze Patina Cheek Tint:  You knew how much I loved a creme blush, and delivered a warm, radiant glow every time.  Your gigantic size never ran out, which is probably why we never sold any . . .

Agate Eye Liner:  Your medium brown color had just enough orange to harmonize with a warm palette, without making eyes look red.  Your creamy texture made it easy to give more mature guests a softly defined eye, escaping any harsh lines.

Uruku Eye Creme in Duna:  Your sheer wash of shimmering gold was beautiful.  Both on its own for a subtle metallic eye, or as a shadow primer with a little added sparkly dimension.

Lip Glaze in Pepino:  Your shockingly acidic coral-pink color scared clients in the tube.  But you went on the lips sheer, and your bright color lit up a face in a modern, youthful way.

Petal Essence Blush in Lotus:  A red lip calls for a super subtle cheek, and you were there with your soft whisper of nude color.  You helped tomato red lips look amazing on the fairest of skin tones, with out the retro look of pink cheeks.

Goodbye my friends!  Thanks for the makeup memories. . .

(The products with hyper-links were still available on the AVEDA website at the time of publication.  You can also search for an AVEDA location here, and call ahead to see if they still have the product in stock.)

Between Thursday, December 24th and Sunday, January 3rd the makeupbyjanine blog will be breaking from its usual daily topics to bring you a “Best of 2009″ series of blog posts.  Happy New Year!

Hi, fellow makeup enthusiasts.  Before the holiday, I came across a deal on EBay for 6 NYX jumbo eyeshadow pencils.   Of course, being the makeup junkie that I am, I had to make the purchase.   I discovered that they make great primers for your eyeshadow.   For those unfamiliar with the term, a primer (or base) is a cream substance that can be placed on the eyelid prior to applying eyeshadow color.   Primer helps your eyeshadow stay put and it also makes your eyeshadow color “pop”.   However, these pencils do have the tendency to crease throughout so it’s important to blend the color well before you apply your eyeshadow color.   If you do have a separate primer I’d recommend using your primer first then follow up with your NYX jumbo pencil and eyeshadow color.   I recommend trying the following colors:  

Black Bean

Milk

Yogurt

French Fries

I also purchased yellow, cherry (red), and pacific (blue)  in hopes of blending them with eyeshadow colors to make secondary and tertiary colors since they are primary colors.   I haven’t attempted this yet on my eyes but it worked fairly well with the swatches on my arm.  

Estée Lauder’s scientists figured out how to put pure black pigments ( Carbon Black and Black Iron Oxides ) through an ultrasonic process in order to give them a deep, inky color you usually don’t find outside of falsies.

A luxurious collection of rich, intensely saturated black mascaras and sultry, smoky accents for big, bold, dramatically alluring eyes.

Now beautifully bold, dramatic eyes are just a wave of the wand away. Don’t be shy, make your eyes the center of attention with Estée Lauder’s new Blacker Than Black eye collection. This unique collection features six of Estée Lauder’s most popular mascara formulas each in a richer, more concentrated, more dramatic black shade for eyes that appear bigger, bolder, more dramatic!

Because the mascara is so concentrated, it creates a contrast that defines and frames the eyes for a look that is at once highly sophisticated and utterly alluring.

Whether your look calls for lashes that are lengthened, defined, volumized, lifted, curled or a combination, you can achieve the look you want as each of these luxurious mascaras offer the same unique benefits as their original formulas, but now with the deepest, intense jet black effect.

The mascaras include Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara, Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara, Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara, TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara, MagnaScopic Maximum Volume Mascara and the More Than Mascara Moisture Binding Formula.

Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Blacker Black offers dramatic length and sensationally long wear in one effortless stroke and won’t budge, smudge, smear or flake for up to 15 hours; This is my favourite mascara – lasting, clumps & smudge free finishes.

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Bold Black turns even your sparsest lashes into daringly full, lavishly lifted lashes without the clumping, spiking or weight normally associated with volumizing mascaras; My curling mascara although I don’t see much volumization.

Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara in Jet Black envelops each individual lash with high volume and exceptionally sharp definition for a sleek, striking look; I don’t like this as it tends to clump.

TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara in Turbo Black combines an innovative formula and brush design with a unique, power-performing, micro-pulsing effect that enables the brush to penetrate deep into the lash bed and comb through lashes more quickly and effectively, delivering all effects – volume, length, definition, separation and curl – in one tube. I don’t like battery operated devise to be used close to my eyes, so I haven’t try this out.

MagnaScopic Maximum Volume Mascara in Black transforms lashes with dramatic volume, making them appear extravagantly full for a powerfully eye-opening effect; I like the volumizing effect but again this tends to clump & flake.

More Than Mascara Moisture Binding Formula in More Black features a moisture-binding formula that conditions lashes as it defines and separates them for a look that’s smoother, fuller and longer; This gives a glossy, natural finish and my lashes would become brittle despite continual use.

Black Smoke Signature Eyeshadow Quad

As for the Signature Eye Shadow Quad, it contains four “sultry, beautifully smoky shades” that appear to be different levels of gray instead of all-out black. The microfine powder is designed no to crease and to glide on smoothly, blending seamlessly for a flawless, long-lasting look.

Onyx Double Wear Eye Pencil

Instantly frame eyes and complete the look of rich, smoky intensity with Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Onyx. This pencil’s unique lightweight, creamy formula glides on effortlessly for rich, stay-true color that sets in seconds and wears for 12 hours; I find this really long lasting & smudge-proof.

So, I got myself a new toy : the 88 eyeshadow palette by Coastal Scents.

If you are anything like me, you will love this palette. With such a wide range of colors, you can mix, customize, blend and create endless looks. More importantly, the colors are highly pigmented and it comes with a great price tag as well. The only con I can find with this product is that the individual eyeshadow pans are smaller than most eyeshadows out there in the market. However, I am not complaining because I have never in my life completely used up any of my eyeshadows anyway.

Inspired by my favorite makeup artist, Kandee Johnson, I am sporting scarlet lids today. It is a fresh change from the usual black eyeliner. This simple look was created using my Sephora lip liner in ‘Pinup Pink’ and a red shade from the Coastal Scents palette applied using a liner brush. Be sure to prime your eyes before anything else to prevent smudging and to increase its staying power throughout the day. Get imaginative and play up your peepers. Like I say, eyes are like empty canvases waiting to be painted on!

p/s:

this Christmas, my friend gave me acrylic nails.
i am loving my brand new, fake, strong nails.
sure beats my real, weak nails. thanks, belly!

I know with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays and spending in this economy can be a mess in its self! So I know everyone wants to look good, but not able to splurge all the time on professional brand products. Here are some that I recommend that are budget friendly especially for you out there for under $20.00!

*Not in any particular order*

1.  NYX – 5 Color Palette Eyeshadow/5 in one  (Shown as 7.99)

2.  Maybelline – Lip Liner (Shown as 1.99)

3.  Cover Girl -  Loose Powder (Shown as 5.89)

4.  L’Oreal – Colour Juice Lipgloss (Shown as 7.99)

5.  Revlon – Smoothing Primer (Shown as 11.99)

6.  Neutrogena- Blot Sheets (Shown as 7.19)

7.  Almay – Makeup Remover Pads (Shown Travel Size as .99)

8.  Ulta – Cheek Color (Shown as 6.99)

9.  Physicians Formula- 100% Natural Origin Bronzer (Shown as 13.99)

10. Studio Gear – Hidden Agenda Concealer (Shown as 15.00)

You should be able to find with these brands on a budget everything you need for your face. Just make sure if you have questions about the right color for you, ask someone at the makeup counter. In the case, of example if you go to Ulta (where I found these prices, but subject to change at all times) or Sephora make sure to ask an associate because that is what they get paid to do. So there is no excuse not to take care of your appearance, even if you just have to throw on a little powder and a little gloss on the go!

Until next time! Stay warm! Happy New Years!

MakeupByLaVelle

I was craving color. 

Colors used:

Flare, Meow, Maggie, Lush, Celestial, Ivory over Gosh Eyeshadow Base

Doctor: What are you doing here, honey? You’re not even old enough to know how bad life gets.
Cecilia: Obviously, Doctor, you’ve never been a 13-year-old girl.

Product: NYX Chrome Eyeshadow (in “Green” and “Lagoon”)

Price: $3 at Cherry Culture

General Information: http://www.cherryculture.com/cosmetics/makeup/nyx-cosmetics/nyx-chrome-eyeshadow/16603&cat=0&page=2

Review:

Rating: 3.8/5

Product: Wild and Crazy Eyeshadow (in “Green Tea” and “Purple Rock”)

Price: $1.50 at Cherry Culture

General Information: http://www.cherryculture.com/cosmetics/makeup/wild-and-crazy/wild-and-crazy-eyeshadow/16830&cat=263&page=2

Review:

Rating: 2.8/5

MAC’s newest release, Love Lace, focuses on couture’s enduring love affair with lace. Truthfully, I can’t figure out how these colors invoke images of lace, but here is a rundown of the newest products in this collection.

Eyeshadow ($14)
In 4 new colors (from left): Suave Intentions, Pincurl, Love Lace, and Hypnotizing

Eye Kohl Power Pencil ($14.50) in (from left) Sense of Style, Raven, and Feline
Eye Kohl ($14.50) in Fascinating (sheer white)
Eye Brows ($15) in Stud
Zoom Lash mascara ($13)
44 Lash ($13)

Lipstick ($14) in (from left) in Pretty Please and Intricate
Lipglass ($14) in Icescape and Utterly Discrete
Nail Lacquer ($12) in Light Affair

And 2 awesome looks from the collection:

Feline, an updated take on the classic smoky eye and pale lip comboUtterly Discrete, an architectural take on defined, strong eyes, finished with a flush of bright pink blush.Note that most of these items (Eye Kohl, Eye Brows, Zoom Lash, lipsticks) are from MAC’s permanent collection and are repromoted here as a part of Love Lace.